NEFA (Figure 7): the Clasp Is Fashioned to Instituted by the President of India on May 8, 1975 Represent a Piece of Bamboo
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Volume 53, Number 2 NEFA (Figure 7): The clasp is fashioned to instituted by the President of India on May 8, 1975 represent a piece of bamboo. Issued for an aggregate with effect from January 26, 1965. As with previous of one year of service from October 7, 1952 for road medals, it uses clasps to commemorate service in and airfield construction in the NEFA, or one year’s specified areas, although they do not contain service in NEFA on the strength of a unit between symbolic devices nor are rosettes utilized. Although October 7,1952 and November 15, 1957; one-year’s wider, the clasps are similar in design to those used service with the Assam Rifles in the NEFA from on the British General Service Medal 1962. The August 15, 1947, or for air crew, 10 sorties or 40 medal is described as follows: hours flight time from October 7, 1957. Himalaya (Figure 8): A pinecone separates the inscription in the center medallion. Issued for one year of service, 10 sorties or 60 hours flight time in specified areas of the Himalayas from November 20, 1965. Figure 8: Himalaya clasp. Andaman and Nicobar: Pahn trees are at either end of clasp. Issued from May 20, 1966 for service in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands off the southeast coast of India. Figure 10: Obverse of the Samanya Seva Medal Obverse: The Indian State Emblem and Motto surrounded by the inscription Samanya Seva Medal in Hindi on the left and English on the right. The date 1965 is in the center bottom. Reverse: An elephant facing right Suspension: Non-swiveling straight bar Figure 9: Bengal-Assam clasp. Ribbon: Green with three 44mm equally spaced stripes of red, dark blue and Bengal-Assam (Figure 9): The clasp is unadorned. light blue from left to right. Although Issued for an aggregate of one year of service after it is tempting to ascribe the color October 26, 1962 in designated areas of West scheme to the British heritage, it is Bengal, Assam, Tripura and the Mizo Hills. generally held that there is no particular symbolic meaning to them. Marusthal (Desert): The clasp is unadorned. Metal: Cupro-Nickel Clasps: Inscribed in Hindi, without rosettes The Samanya Seva Medal or embellishments. The clasps and qualifying periods are shown below. The Samanya Seva Medal 1965 (Figure 10) was 20 The Journal of the Orders and Medals SocieW of America Naming: The medal is generally found named on the Mizoram (Figure 12): For active service in edge with the recipient’s service number, rank, name Mizoram after September 8, 1975. and unit. For the various issues of this medal the eligibility criteria for the clasps are as follows: Another practice of the British period has also been maintained, the naming of medals to the recipients. Kutch Kargil 1965 (Figure 11): Instituted on May As with the British practice, the service number, 8, 1975. For active service in the Kutch or Kargil rank, name and unit of the recipient are impressed on areas immediately prior to the 1965 Indo-Pakistan the edge of the medal. War of 196~. The period of eligibility for operations in Kutch was from April 9, 1965 though July 1, 1965 The collecting of medal groups containing the while for those in Kargil it was from May 17, 1965 General Service Meda! 1947, as well as other awards, through January 22, 1966. Kargil is located in the can add an ahnost infinite variety of possible high Himalayan region of Kashmir while Kutch is in combinations given the record of service of the the salt flats of Gujarat State. It is interesting to note Indian Army since 1947. An example of a group to a that Pakistan issued separate awards for these Gorkha recipient that contains both the General engagements. Service Medal 1947 as well as the Sainya Seva Medal is illustrated in Figure 13. Figure 11: Kutch Kargi11965 clasp. Nathula Chola: Instituted on May 8, 1975. For active service against the Communist Chinese in 1967 border incidents at Nathula and Chola in Figure 13: Group offour to a Gorkha recipient. Sikkim. The period of eligibility for operations in Nathula was from September 11 through 16, 1967 As will be noted by the areas of service and and for operations in Chola for participation in action qualifying periods for the Sainya Seva Medal and the on October 1, 1967. Samanya Seva Medal 1965, the General Service Medal 1947 has been replaced by two medals Nagaland: For active service in Nagaland after commemorating both general as well as active September 8, 1975. military service. The various traditions and general format established by the British issued medals have continued, demonstrating both a link to the past as well as innovative changes that add a uniqueness to each award. Bibliography Dickson, Bill C. "Bars to Medals of the Republic of India."The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society, Winter 1989, 240-242 Haynes, Ed, "International Electronic Phaleristic Encyclopedia", The Decorations and Medals of the Republic of India Johnson, M. C. "The Medals of the Republic of India: A basic guide." The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Figure 12: Mizoram clasp. Society, Spring 1989, 38-45 Singh, Sarbans Maj (Retd), Battle Honors of the Indian A~w~y, New DeLhi: Vision Books 1993. 21 Volume 53, Number 2 Unique Group of Medals from an OSS Marine Corps POW in Europe John P. Mull, III, OMSA No. 2024 In a form letter from H. Lawrence Garrett, III, Acting Secretary of the Navy, dated March 1, 1988, to the recipients of the Prisoner of War Medal, he stated, "It is estimated that 142,000 United States members were held as prisoners in World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict." Of this number ONLY 4 members of the United States Marine Corps were held captive of the Germans during World War II. Three of them surrendered to avoid harm to civilians and ONLY one, in a separate action, was captured after being severely wounded in action. This is his story. Walter Willard Taylor, Jr., (Figure 1) was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 17, 1943. His family moved some years later to Lakeville, Connecticut, where he graduated from High School in 1931. He attended Yale University, Hew Haven, Connecticut, graduating with a degree in Geology in 1935. He continued his studies in Anthropology receiving a Masters Degree a year later. He spoke Spanish and French, and enjoyed boxing, softball, football, lacrosse, and equitation. Figure 1: Photo of 2nd Lieut. Walter Willard Taylor, USMCR, June 29, 1943. By 1937, Taylor had married Lyda Averill and made his ho~ne in Austin, Texas, where he was employed On June 16, 1943, Taylor was appointed a 2nd as a college instructor of American Indian Lieutenant USMC at Marine Barracks, Quantico, Archeology. He continued to work on his Doctor’s Virginia, and remained there under instruction in the Degree through Harvard University, Cambridge, 30th Reserve Officers Class until August 25, 1943, Massachusetts. During his summer vacations when he was detached to Camp Lejeune, New River, between 1935-1941, he led several expeditions in the North Carolina. He took a ten-day leave before American Southwest and Old Mexico, and published reporting to the Headquarters Battalion, Montford works on his findings. By the end of 1942 he had Point Camp, on September 9, 1943, and remained a amassed enough credits for his Doctor’s Degree but it casual company officer until September 15, 1943. At was not awarded to him until 1943. this time he was again detached to Headquarters, U.S.M.C., Washington, D.C., and joined, on Feeling a call to serve his country Taylor, enlisted in September 20, 1943, Company "C," 1st Headquarters the United States Marine Corps on December 14, Battalion. He was assigned duty with the Naval 1942, in San Antonio, Texas. On February 23, 1943, Command, Office of Strategic Services and remained he reported for induction and was sent to Parris here, under training, until December 2, 1943, when Island, South Carolina, for Basic Training with the he again took a ten ’day leave before reporting to his 8th Recruit Depot, arriving on the 25th. On April 22, next assignment. 1943, he was sent as a Private under instruction, to Quantico, Virginia, with the 27th Officer Candidate On December 13, 1943, he was en route to the Naval School. On June 15, 1943, he was discharged to Command, 2677th Regiment, Office of Strategic accept a commission in the United States Marine Services, for temporary special duty at Algeria, Corps, 22 .